Sofa bed



J. B. CR AHAN Da e. 2, 1952 SOFA BED 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 1. 1950 s M Y T M A R R C T B X T W A M A W J II IIIC Ill J. B. CRAHAN Dec. 2, 1952 SOFA BED 2 SI-lEETS- SHEET 2 Filed March 1'. 1950 FIG. 2

JAcK B. CRAHAN ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT G l SOFA BED Jack Biol-ali n; Minneapolis; Mirinl, ssigner tt' Flexsteel Spring Corporation; Minneapolis? Minn acorporation of Minnesota Aepneetien March 1; 1950 SeriaLNm 14mm (c1: 5---1s-)' My inventionreiates'to sofabedfsand particu larlyto. the seat" bottoms" thereof" and has for an* obje'cttof providea; front "seatbottor'n' and a rear: seat" bottom with: interfitting transversely extending elongated" parts adapted to be intermeshed to'rorm a sofa seat bottom orf'te be" pulled apart to" formv a" bed bottom of a? width and 'vvith ribs extending transversely thereof and with" springs extending? between the ribs andbases;

An 'object of the inventionre'sides in "constructing theisprings as. arcuate" leaf springs";

' A" still further object ofthe invention resides in arranging certain of the ribsof onebedbottom in alternation withcertain' of the ribs" of the" otherbed-bottom.

An object of the" invention resides in con structing the bases with spaced "transverse slats and with-longitudinal"base members at the end offthe'slats'and towhich the springsare at-- tached.

Another obj ect:of;the inventibn" residesiin prof viding casters attached to' theslatsan'd'su'pport=- i'ng theseatbottoms for relati've' movementin the direction oflthdribs';

A still" further object ofrthe inventionwesides in' arranging the bases at different elvati'onsi'to" clear one another.

A feature" of theinventionresides in utilizinga seat cushion" and a" back rest? cushion and in" hingedly connecting the cushions together with'a flap; adapted to be assembled to idrm a bed bottom? 7 Ari obj ect' of "the invention resid'es inmaking the *flap. of" ailengthequal to the i'thicknes's' 'of the cushions;

Other objects of'fth' invention reside irfthenovel combination'an'd.arrangementof parts and in the j details .of .izconstructiori hereinafter i11i1strated and/ or described.

' The herein'disclo'sed' iriven'tio'r'rv contiiari'ses front andback-fse'at bottoms whichl'a'r'eisimilarcon structi'on.v Eachflseat. "bottom c'on's'ists 'of a. baseincluding-a number; oiiltfansverse slats' and to the. ends of. which'are attached .-ll6rigiti1dinal :bas'e members;

thebasesiontransverse relative movement. Dis

posed above the slats are ribs which are con- Casterswsecuredfid the slats 'snpport nected to the longitudinal base ifieiiit'eis by" rear. seat section are disposed below" the ease; of

seat ejeaemewhne the lohgitiidinal base mem+ bers of the rearsection" are. mounted on posts section so" that 'said bas" members likewise clear one aIiOthEI-X Tfi Ti HS 0f the tWO" bottoms" are disposed ifit'erfittin'g" relatiofi ed that tire-two bottoms meymeve relativdto" eneianerner in a directiofi' parallel" to the ribs.

bottoms are dispe'sed 'ih 'a'sofa' frameconstructed in the" CI0il'vflllidhal manner" and" which is upholsti'd togive samet e' desired utility and appeeranee; Emplbyedwith theseat 'b'OttOmI is a'se'atbushion'and'abaickirestcushion. These cushions are adapted'to 'be pojsitioned adjacent one another to overlie" both of the "seat bottoms c shi'ons'ai'c'o'nhcted 'toget er y means of a flap-V which" is- "connected to the upper" rearward edge oi the seatf'ciishion and to the lower for ward 'edg'eTQf' the back rest cushion. This flap cushions;

seat cushion a distance forwardly of the rearward iedge -therecif' determined by" the length of said ifl'apla'nd supported by a"suitab1e 'back rest su port earned: onitheframe er" the sofa: In" this manner "the seat cushion :may "be made of a suitable length 'to provide comfortable "Seating;

11;. the rawings; 1

Fe. '1 is era sofa bed illustrating an embodiment of the mvenrient Fig: 2 is av crossfs'ectibnal vi'w'takn' substaiie any :on liii- Z Z -bf Fig-.1 1 aiidshowiiig the 'Sat cushions-iii'eiitefidd-pdsitibnf a v Fig. 3 is: a view-similar to Fig'f 2 showing the parts collapsed bositiiii tions l3 "and M which are identical in constriice plan view'with pardons roken away he invention consists i of asofaframe-'10" tion. Only the frame section I4 will be described in detail. This section comprises an arm rest I3. Legs H and I9 are secured to the arm rest 55 and to cross bars I8, which are disposed at the lower portion of the section. An end panel 55 is secured to the parts I6, I1, I8 and I9 on the outer side thereof. Secured to the rearward portions of the end sections I3 and I4 is a rear section 2|. This section comprises three longitudinal frame members I6, I? and I8 which are attached to uprights I9. These uprights are secured to the legs I9 by means of bolts 80 whereby the end sections I3 and I4 are secured to the rear section 2I. The end sections I3 and I4 are further secured together at their forward ends by means of a tie bar 3I which extends through the cross bars I8 of frame sections I3 and I4 and which is threaded at its ends to receive nuts 32. These nuts engage the cross bar I8 on opposite sides thereof and clamp the parts together.

Forwardly of the frame section 2I and carried by the upper part of the same is a back rest 23. This back rest is spaced from the section 2| and is supported on end pieces 24 secured to the uprights 79. In addition the said back rest is attached to a longitudinal frame member 83 which is also secured to said end pieces. Adjacent the said frame member is another longitudinal frame member 84 attached to the end pieces 24 and to the longitudinal frame member I! of the rear section 21.. Mounted on the longitudinal frame members 33 and 84 is a sheet of plywood 85 or similar material and the longitudinal frame riembers l and 71 of frame section 2I have similarly attached to them another sheet of plywood By means of this construction a compartment 25 is formed in which bedding may be stored. This compartment is closed by means of a cover 26 connected to the upper edge of the longitudinal frame member I6 of rear frame section 2i by means of hinges 21.

The lowermost portions of the frame sections i3 and I4 have attached to the cross bars I8, the legs ii and the longitudinal frame member 18 of rear section 2!, blocks 53 which serve as feet for the sofa. The frame It is upholstered in the customary manner which, not forming any feature of the invention, has not been shown in detail, and which has been indicated in dotted lines at 5].

The two seat bottoms II and I2 are disposed between the two sections I3 and I4 of frame I3 and may be moved partially outward therefrom or disposed. substantially within the confines of said section and below the back rest 22.

The seat bottom II comprises a base 28 which consists of a number of slats 29 extending transversely of the sofa and arranged in spaced relation. overlying the slats are a corresponding number of channel bars 33 which have secured to them three longitudinal base members 3|, 32 and 33 which are also channel shaped in form. The base members 3I and 33 are situated near the ends of the said slats while the member 32 is situated near the centers of the same. The base 28 further includes an edging 45 which is secured to the slats 23. Mounted at each corner of the base is a block 43. To these blocks are secured casters 4'! which support the base for transverse movement in the direction of extent of the said slats.

Overlying the base 28 are a number of ribs 34 which are constructed of a thin flexible material. These ribs are held. in spaced relation by means of tie bars I43 which are secured to said ribs by" means of rivets I49. The ribs 34 are arranged in pairs indicated at 56 and the ribs of each pair" have secured to the ends thereof U-shaped leaf springs 35 and 33 which in turn are attached to the base members 3| and 33 by means of rivets: 3?. These ribs are secured to the upper ends of the springs 35 and 36 by means of other rivets 3 8 overlying the forward ends of the said ribs are leaf springs 39 which are secured under the rivets Clips 43 are attached to the forward ends of the said leaf springs and support an edging wire which serves the usual purpose. The rearward ends of the ribs 34 extend rearwardly of the springs 33 and have attached to them similar clips 42 which support a rear edging wire 43. Attached to the ribs 34 of each pair 68 of ribs is an intermediate arcuate leaf spring 48 which is secured to the said ribs and also to the longitudinal base member 32. The springs 48 are secured to the ribs 34 by means of rivets 49 and serve to tie the parts together and form a rigid structure. The entire surface of the said bottom I I is covered by means of covering 44 constructed of fabric or some other suitable material which is hemmed over the edging wire 43, brought around the edging wire 4I and tacked to the facing 45 disposed at the forward portion of the base 29.

The rear seat section I2 is similarly constructed. This seat section comprises a base 52 having slats 53 which extend transversely of the said bottom and which are attached at their rearward ends to a longitudinal base member 54. The slats 53 are disposed below the slats 29. At the forward ends of the said slats are arranged posts 55 which have secured to the upper ends of the same a forward longitudinal base member 53. Other posts 57 are secured to the base member 54. and have attached to the upper ends of the same another longitudinal base member 53. The two base members 56 and 58 are angle-shaped and have upstanding legs 59 and horizontal less 69 which rest on the posts 55 and 51. Tie bars GI overlying the legs stiffen the structure and prevent spreading of the legs, The base 52 is mounted on casters I41 similar to the casters 4'],

Overlying the base 52 of seat bottom I2 are ribs 32 similar to the ribs 34 and which have attached to them arcuate leaf springs 63. The ribs 32 are also arranged in pairs indicated at 68 and each leaf spring is secured to the two ribs 62 of each pair. The rearward ends of the ribs 62 project rearwardly of the springs 63 and have secured to them clips 64 in which is mounted an edging Wire 65.

It will be noted that the pairs of ribs 66 of the seat bottom II are spaced from one another t0= leave spaces 51 therebetween and similarly the; pairs 68 of the leaves 62 are spaced from one an\ other to leave spaces 69 therebetween. The pairs. 68 of the ribs 62 are disposed in the spaces 61' while the pair 66 of the ribs 34 are. disposed in the spaces 39. In this manner the two seat; bottoms interfit, thepairs of ribs of each of said bottoms alternating with those of the other. The slats 29 and 53 being disposed below the pairs; of ribs 66 and 68 and the parts 55 being disposed in the spaces 61 and as, it will be readily comprehended that the posts 55 are movable in these spaces thus permitting the moving of two seat bottoms relative to one another from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. .3.

For use in conjunction with the sofa a seat cushion I0 and a back rest cushion II are em-.

ployed. These cushions being of conventional construction have not been shown in detail. Bothof thesaid cushions arec'f the same-length, while the cushion H is slightly thic'kerthan the cushion T ."to compensate for the slight difference in height 'l-betw'een the two .seat bottoms 'I I and [2. The cushion Ill is. however, of a width substantially equalito the width 'of'ithe seat bottom l I while the cushion .Tl of a'w'idth equal to the difference between the 'widths of the two seat bottoms when'in extended and collapsed position. This cushion is connected to' the cushion 10 by means .of a fabric flap 1-2 which is stitched to the upper rear edge '13 of the cushion'lll and to the lower. forward edge of the cushion' 'lll. I a

. The use of theinventioniis as'I-follows: When the sofa bed is to be used as a sofa the forward seat bottom .11 is pushed rearward and the same rolls on the casters 4] to move the same "inwardly into the space of the frame '10 of the sofa. between the frame sections Band 11. The longitudinal base member '32 strikes the posts 55 of the seat bottom lz'andcauses correspondiingmovement of the said seat bottom until the base 52 engages the rear longitudinal frame member 1.3 of said frame. Cushion "I0 is then placed upon the combinedseat bottoms andoccupies the position illustrated .in Fig. 3. The cushion ll is-moved forwardly and .set onedge on cushion 18 with the flap 1'2 .overlying the upper surface of the cushion T0 at therearward portion thereof as shown. The said cushion .is then brought into engagement with thelback rest 23 of theframe I0 which serves to support the cushion in upright position resisting the pressure applied to'the cushion-by the user. The sides of the cushion H indicated at I5 are slightly beveled to make the cushionrest'properly upon teas-a the cushion H1 and to cause the 'sameto incline against the back restl's. When desired for use as a bed, the seat bottom H is pulled outwardly rolling it on casters 41. As soon as the base member'33 :engages the posts 55,-the sea-t bottom I2 is drawn along with it and .rolled on casters I41 and the parts moved. outwardly until the same are relatively 'clearbf the back rest 23. The cushion H is then laid'upon the extended part of the .seat bottom '12 which brings the fiap in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The said cushions are thus held in juxtaposition and now serve as a mattress.

The advantages of the invention are apparent. The sofa bed serves either as a sofa or as a full sized bed. With the invention extremely comfortable springs are provided which give equally as great comfort when the invention is used as a sofa as when the same is used as a bed. The operation of converting the sofa bed from bed to sofa and vice versa is extremely simple and is accomplished in a relatively small amount of time. No additional cushions or mattresses are needed, the sofa cushions forming the mattress. By means of the particular spring construction employed the ribs of the seat bottoms interfit and practically occupy no additional space when the seat bottoms are brought into register. By means of the fiap connecting the cushions together the cushions are held in proper position whether the invention is used as a sofa or a bed. With the construction shown the seat cushion becomes of proper width for comfortable seating. When the parts are extended the cushions form a full sized mattress. By disposing the back rest cushion forwardly from the rear edge of the seat cushion a compartment' is provided: rearwardly of the back rest cushion and in which bedding and other materials'm'ay be stored.

' Changes in the'specific form of the invention, asv herein described, maybe made within the scopeo'f whatjis claimed without departing from the spirit of "the invention.

Having described the invention, what' is claimed. as new and desired to be protected by Letters'Patent is:

1. Ina'sofa bed a front seat bottom comprising a base, a number 'ofspaced ribs carried by said base, arcuate leaf springs Iextending between said ribs and base, a rear seat bottom comprising .a base disposed'below'said first base, spaced ribs carried by said second baseanddisposed between certain of "the first "ribs, all "of said ribslying in a substantially horizontal plane, arcua'te springs extending "between said second ribs and'sa'id second base, "and supporting means for guiding said seat bottoms for relativemovement in the direction of the length of the'ribs thereof.

2. In a sofa bed a front seat bottom comprising a base consisting of a, number of spaced transverse slats, longitudinal b'ase'members arranged at the ends of the slats and secured thereto, a number of spacedtransverse ribs overlying said base, springs extending between said ribs and longitudinalbase members, a rear seat bottom comprising-a base consisting of va num- 'ber of spaced. transverse slats disposed be ow said first slats, posts secured to certain of said slats at the ends thereof and projecting above said first slats, longitudinal base members mounted on'said posts,v a. number of spaced transverse ribs overlying said second base, springs extending between said second ribs and said second longitudinal base members, said second means for guiding said seat bottoms .for relative movement .in the direction of the length of the ribs thereof.

'3. In a sofa bed a front seat bottom comprising a base consisting of a number of spaced transverse slats, longitudinal base members arranged at the ends of the slats and secured thereto, a number of spaced transverse ribs overlying said base, U-shaped leaf springs extending between the ends of said ribs and longitudinal base members, a rear seat bottom comprising a base consisting of a number of spaced transverse slats disposed below said first slats, posts secured to certain of said slats at the ends thereof and projecting above said first slats, longitudinal base members mounted on said posts, a number of spaced transverse ribs overlying said second base, C-shaped leaf springs extending between said second ribs and said second longitudinal base members, said second ribs being disposed between said first ribs and said ribs all lying in a substantially horizontal plane, the rearmost of said first longitudinal base members being confined in movement to the space defined by said second ribs and said second slats and said second posts and springs, and supporting means for guiding said seat bottoms for relative movement in the direction of the length of the ribs thereof.

4. In a sofa bed a front seat bottom comprising a base consisting of a number of spaced transverse slats, longitudinal base members arranged at the ends of the slats and secured thereto, a number of spaced transverse ribs overlying said base, springs extending between said ribs and longitudinal base members, a rear seat bottom comprising a base consisting of a number of spaced transverse slats disposed below said first slats, posts secured to certain of said slats at the ends thereof and projecting above said first slats, longitudinal base members mounted on said posts, a number of spaced transverse ribs overlying said second base, springs extending between said second ribs and said second longitudinal base members, said second ribs being disposed between said first ribs and said ribs all lying in a substantially horizontal plane, the rearmost of said first longitudinal base members being confined in movement to the space defined by said second ribs and said second slats and said second posts and springs, and casters secured to said slats and guiding said seat bottoms for relative sliding movement in the direction of the length of the ribs thereof.

5. In a sofa bed, a front seat bottom and a rear seat bottom, said seat bottoms having transversely extending interfitting elongated parts formed with upper surfaces lying in a substantially horizontal plane and supporting means for guiding said seat bottoms for relative movement in the direction of the length of said parts, a seat cushion overlying said front seat bottom, a back rest cushion resting throughout its lower end upon the rearward part of said seat cushion inwardly of the rear edge thereof to reduce the width of the exposed portion of said seat cushion and a flap hinged to said cushions and holding the same in position to form a sofa or a mattress.

6. In a sofa bed, a front seat bottom and a rear seat bottom, said seat bottoms having transversely extending interfitting elongated parts formed with upper surfaces lying in a substantially horizontal plane and supporting means for guiding said seat bottoms for relative movement in the direction of the length of said parts, a seat cushion overlying said front seat bottom, a back rest cushion resting on edge upon the rearward part of said seat cushion and a flap hinged to said seat cushion at the upper rear edge thereof and to said back rest cushion when in a horizontal position to the lower forward edge thereof, said flap being of a length equal to the thickness of said cushions;

7. In a sofa bed, a seat bottom, a'seat cushion overlying said seat bottom, a back rest cushion resting on edge upon the rearward part of said seat cushion, a flap hinged to said seat cushion at the upper rear edge thereof and to said back rest cushion when in erected'position to the lower rear edge thereof and free from said cushions elsewhere, said flap being of a length substantially equal to the thickness of said back rest cushion, said back rest cushion being adapted to lie in continuation of said cushion with'the flap disposed between the ends of the cushions, said flap holding the upper surfaces of said cushions substantially in a common plane.

8. In a sofa bed a front seat bottom comprising a base, a number of spaced ribs carried by said base, arcuate leaf springs extending between said ribs and base, a rear seat bottom comprising a base having parts disposed adjacent said first base, spaced ribs carried by said second base and disposed between certain of the first ribs, all of said ribs lying in a substantially horizontal plane, arcuate springs extending between said second ribs and said second base, and supporting means for guiding said seat bottoms for relative movement in the direction of the length of the ribs thereof.

JACK B. CRAI-IAN.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1914 

